Container crusher

ABSTRACT

A base providing a platform on which a container to be crushed rests in a fixed position and a spring-supported lever pivotally connected at one end of said base. Force applied to the free end of the lever to overcome the support provided by the spring moves the lever into parallel alignment adjacent the top of said base thereby flattening the container.

United States Patent [1 1 Carlson [451 Dec. 4, 1973 CONTAINER CRUSHER [76] Inventor: Duane E. Carlson, 3709 4th Ave.,

South Milwaukee, Wis. 53172 [22] Filed: Feb. 18, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 227,430

[52] U.S. Cl 100/98 R, 100/233, 100/266, 1 IOO/DIG. 2 [51] Int. Cl B30b 9/32 [58] Field of Search 100/233, 266, DIG. 2, 100/98 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,466,907 4/1949 Nadolny et a1. 100/233 2,905,079 9/1959 Brock 100/233 X 3,299,802 1/1967 Black 100/233 2,602,483 7/1952 Graham 100/233 2,603,270 7/1952 Voigt et a]. 100/233 2,800,160 7/1957 Wilson et a1... 100/233 3,273,493 9/1966 Smiltneek 100/98 R 1,305,339 6/1919 Bolton et a1. 100/98 R Primary ExaminerBilly J, Wilhite Attorney--Robert J. Steininger 57] ABSTRACT A base providing a platform on which a container to be crushed rests in a fixed position and a spring- I supported 1ever pivotally connected at one end of said base. Force applied to the free end of the lever to overcome the support provided by the spring moves the lever into parallel-alignment adjacent the top of said base thereby flattening the container.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures CONTAINER CRUSHER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention pertains to the art of mechanical devices for restraining containers and compressing them into flat easily stored sheets for reprocessing.

2. Description of the PriorArt Devices for compressing containers into flat sheetshave been in existence for use by individual householders over a considerable period. The general method employed by such devices in flattening containers involves a lever which swings on a'hinge attachment at one end of a base such that it moves into a positionparallel with and adjacent the upper surface of suchbase. Such lever action serves to flatten a container placed on such upper surface. Because of the tendency of the container to move laterally onsuch upper surface during crushing, some means for restraining the container against such motion is usually employed. However, there is a need, when crushing containers of various lengths, to secure the container against longitudinal movement whenthe lever strikes the container. Further, there is a need to combine ease of advancing such lever with such securing means in order to produce crushing with a minimum effort. Present devices do not provide this combination to a satisfactory degree and the need for providing more efficiency has given rise to improvements provided by this invention.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Development in container design and particularly design of metal containers have incorporated structural elements as an integral part of the container. which re.- sist uniform flattening through use of force applied across the entire container length. However, adevice equipped to collapse the area securing one end to the sides of the container easily overcomes these structural characteristics and begins the flattening process with a minimum of force. If the means for holding the container on the base restrains the container against longitudinal movement while such area is being collapsed, the flattening process can proceed efficiently.

Using the conventional lever hinged ona base, special features here are combined to collapse such area with case. These include an appropriate depression running longitudinally in the base, an adjustable stop within such depression and a cutting edge on the under side of such lever for initial contact with such area as the lever is lowered. Such cutting edgeforces the con-v tainer into the depression and against the stop where it uedlowering of the lever. When the lever is completely lowered the container is flattened to the desired thickness.

In the drawings attached and the following description, the best mode presently contemplated-for carrying out the invention is set forth. The manner and process of making and using the invention are described below in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which the inven-' tion pertains or to which it is most clearlyconnected, to make and use the invention. It should'be emphasized, however, that the subject matter regarded as the invention is not limited to the herein described embodiment of it, but rather includes everything falling within -2 the claims set forth at the conclusion of this specification.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention showing a container in position for crushing and one means for applying the crushing force. I

FIG. 2 is a side elevationof the invention with a partial longitudinal section showing the detail of the stop which holds the container in position during crushing. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view ofv the lever taken along the lines 33 of FIG. 2and'showing the cutter in section. I

Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1 shows base 1 to which lever 2 is attached bypivot pin 3 In the is secured on the upper side of the base during contin upper surface of base 1 and running longitudinally thereof is depression 4 containing a series of holes 5 each designed to receive pin 6 and hold such pin against movement within the plane of the upper surface of base 1.-.

On the lower side of lever 2 is pressure plate 7 on which is mountedcutter 8. On the upperside lever 2, and on the end thereof most remote from the point of pivotal attachment of said lever 2 tobase 1, is foot pedal 9. 7,

Base 1 is designed for positioning on any flat surface, but because of need to locate the crusher at the point of accumulation of the. bulk of household containers available for crushing, it is contemplated that its usual location will be on the floor of the kitchen or utility room withinthe vicinity where most containers are routinely opened and emptied. Likewise, lever 2 is designedwith use on the floor in mind since foot pedal 9 is in the common form of a foot pedal so that it can be easily stepped on when a container is in position for crushing.

When a container is available for crushing, pin 6 is removed from hole 5 and lever 2 is lifted. The container. is then inserted into depression 4 and lever 2 is lowered. The container is moved-along depression 4 as lever 2 is lowered until cutter 8 is in. contact with the end of the container nearest pivot pin 3. Pin 6 is then inserted in the nearestexposed hole 5 adjacent the container to provide a container stop preventing movement of1the container away from pivot pin 3 during the crushing process. Pressure is then appliedto foot pedal 9 to cause .cutter'8'to penetrate the intersection of the end and side of the container and allow pressure plate 7 to force the penetrated end and upper side of the container into contact with the under side of the container. In this flattening process the end of the container most remote from pivot pin 3 is distorted and folded between the upper and lower sides of the container. Lever 2 is then raised and the crushed container removed and stored.

Because of alignment of cutter 8 with depression 4 and of the termination of cutter 8 prior to the location of any of the holes 5 in base 1, the entire lower surface of pressure plate 7 is in contact with the upper surface of base 1 (other than depression 4) when lever '2 is completely depressed. Thus when a container is crushed, the result is essentially a flat, solid sheet consisting of multiple layers of container sides and ends. This is the optimumconfiguration for handling and storing of scrap material and a unique characteristic of the product from applicants container crusher.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that this combination of facility for selective container positioning with the crusher parts which mesh to avoid interference with a complete container press is adaptable for manufacture in a variety of forms using varying bases, levers, container stops and pressure plates designed to be actuated by hand or foot power or by other power means without departing from the basic elements of the invention ashereinbefore described and hereinafter claimed.

Having thus described my invention,'what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a device for crushing containers,

a base member,

a lever pivotally attached to said base member,

a pressure plate attached to said lever,

variable container positioning means on said base member to secure the container against motion away from the point of pivotal connection of said lever on said base member and against motion laterally of said base member, said variable container positioning means comprising the combination of a depression in the upper surface of said base memclaim 1 in which said cutter is in longitudinal alignment with and designed to fit within said depression.

3. In a device for crushing containers as described in claim 2 in which said cutter when within said depression terminates prior to thehole nearest the point of pivotal connection of said lever on said base member so as not to contact said pin when in inserted in said hole.

4. In a device for crushing containers as described in claim 1 in which said pin, when in any of said holes,

cannot be contacted by said edge.

' =0 II! t 

1. In a device for crushing containers, a base member, a lever pivotally attached to said base member, a pressure plate attached to said lever, variable container positioning means on said base member to secure the container against motion away from the point of pivotal connection of said lever on said base member and against motion laterally of said base member, said variable container positioning means comprising the combination of a depression in the upper surface of said base member extending longitudinally of said member and with a multiplicity of holes projecting through said member, and a pin designed to be selectively inserted into such holes, and a cutter connected to said lever extending below said lever and aligned with said positioning means so that said pressure plate is supported by said base when said lever is fully lowered.
 2. In a device for crushing containers as described in claim 1 in which said cutter is in longitudinal alignment with and designed to fit within said depression.
 3. In a device for crushing containers as described in claim 2 in which said cutter when within said depression terminates prior to the hole nearest the point of pivotal connection of said lever on said base member so as not to contact said pin when in inserted in said hole.
 4. In a device for crushing containers as described in claim 1 in which said pin, when in any of said holes, cannot be contacted by said edge. 